In recent years the church's influence has spread to the US, particularly in parts of California with large Hispanic populations.

What are the charges?

In a statement released on Tuesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Mr García, a Mexican national, and the three women allegedly committed 26 felonies in southern California between 2015 and 2018.

These included human trafficking, production of child sex abuse images and forcible rape of a minor.

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Mr García's followers held a mass prayer for him in Mexico on Tuesday

The defendants are accused of coercing underage girls into performing sex acts. The girls were reportedly told that if they went against the wishes of "the Apostle" they would be going against God.

According to court documents, Mr Garcia lectured several of his underage victims "about a king having mistresses and stated that an apostle of god can never be judged for his actions".

"Crimes like those alleged... have no place in our society. Period," Mr Becerra said.

"We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state."

Mr García's co-defendants have been named as Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Meléndez and Susana Medina Oaxaca. They are all affiliated with La Luz del Mundo.

Among them only Ms Meléndez remains at large.

On Wednesday, Mr García, Ms Ocampo and Ms Oaxaca appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom for arraignment.